MASK REVOLT: On the eve of public school classes starting, hundreds of St. Tammany Parish parents protested the student mask mandate Thursday, some decrying "communism" and "torture" while praising "liberty." Their remonstrances came just hours after Louisiana reported its third consecutive daily record for most patients hospitalized with COVID-19.
Which leads some to wonder: When will the current infection surge end? Not for about six weeks, according to one statistical model.
ARMS RACE: Taysom Hill and Jameis Winston got off to a sluggish start on Day 7 of the New Orleans Saints' training camp, each making some missteps and neither able to take advantage of the other's in their competition to be the team's starting quarterback.
Meanwhile, we welcome back sports columnist Jeff Duncan to NOLA.com and The Times-Picayune.
POT BREAK: In the latest sign of liberalizing public attitudes around marijuana, the New Orleans City Council on Thursday pardoned thousands of people who were been summoned to court for marijuana possession - and plans automatic pardons for future recipients of the citations.
You'll find all this and much more in today’s Front Page and on NOLA.com. Thanks for starting your day with us.
If you thought seven days of training camp would be enough for one of Taysom Hill or Jameis Winston to take a clear lead in the starting quarterback battle, you would have been mistaken. Read more
